Thank you!

Multiplication, times tables, learning multiples....whatever you call it, there aren't many kids out there who enjoy it. I know those math lovers are out there, I am married to one, but I also know my kids are not incredibly enthused by the thought of memorizing math facts.

Luckily, they don't completely hate math! They have a good understanding of how to multiply, but when it comes to memorizing multiplication tables I get lots of groans and eye rolls.

However, my kids love games. And they love building with Legos and other building toys, and they absolutely love dice! Yes, my husband's goal is to raise nerds, and I think he is succeeding.

Obviously, times tables practice needs to be combined with something to increase their interest like building and dice. So we built multiplication cities!

Supplies for our Hands-on Multiplication Game

2 Dice (we used 6 sided, but you could use bigger dice, 10 or 12 sided, to practice bigger numbers)

How to Practice Times Tables by Building Cities

This game is so simple, and as long as you have enough blocks, you can practice for quite a while. You need a lot of blocks though, especially when using larger numbers, 10x10, after all, is 100 blocks!

Players take turns rolling both dice, multiplying the results, and building a tower out of that number of blocks. For example, if you get a 3 and a 4 you build a 12 block building (or a 1 and 2 equals a 2 block tower as shown in the picture).

Continue until there are no blocks remaining. Whoever has the largest city wins!

If they really enjoy building, they could practice on their own like this too. It is a great hands-on way to practice math.

With enough practice, they should have their multiplication tables memorized! And as much as I like to say it is more important they know how to calculate the number then to memorize the facts, memorization is pretty handy.

Having basic math facts memorized will increase a child's speed and confidence while doing math!

3 Other Ways to Practice Math Facts with Dice and Blocks

Addition: Roll the dice and add the two numbers rather than multiplying. Biggest City Wins!

Subtraction: Roll the dice and subtract the smaller number from the larger number. Smallest City Wins!

Negative Numbers: Start with each child having half the blocks. Roll the dice and subtract the larger number from the smaller number (giving you a negative number). Take away that many blocks; first one with no blocks wins.

Yes, dice and blocks are indeed a very versatile combination for hands-on math!

In fact, I bet even those kids who enjoy memorizing math facts will also enjoy practicing them in game form.

Sunny Spring Days make us long for everything to be fresh and new. And the prizes in the Sunny Spring Day Giveaway could certainly inspire some fresh changes in life with our little ones!

This giveaway is coordinated by Mommy Scene and sponsored by the participating brands. One lucky winner will receive all of these awesome prizes when the giveaway ends 4/14/17.

Charlie Banana Diapers

Prize: Charlie Banana One Size Diaper Twitter Bird & Deluxe Inserts

The Charlie Banana reusable diapering system is innovative and Eco-friendly; each set includes 1 cloth diaper and 2 highly absorbent, reusable, washable inserts. The sizable safe-snap system allows the one-size diaper to grow with your baby. Highly absorbent inserts make these cloth diapers great for both daily and overnight use. Learn more at charliebanana.com.

Scrub Bugs

Prize: 2 Scrub Bugs Hand Scrubbers

Scrub Bugs are the 1st surgeon inspired hand scrubbers for kids. They are proven to clean hands over 3X better than ordinary handwashing. Cleaner Hands, Healthier Kids - More Fun! Learn more at myscrubbugs.com.

Wild Dill Kids

Prize: A Wild Dill Exclusive Print!

Wild Dill commissioned artist Juliet Meeks to come up with a sweet nighttime inspired watercolor for a baby nursery. The result is this magical sleepy narwhal swimming under a starry sky and moonlit night. 8" x 10" high quality print designed by Artist Juliet Meeks. Learn more at wilddill.com.

Kangapouch

Prize: Organic Cotton White Sleep Sack, 0-12 months OR 12-24 months

Kangapouch is a cotton down fill baby sleep sack that will move with your baby through rolls and turns during sleep, keeping your baby warm, comfortable and covered at all times. Kangapouch is also ideal for sleepovers and camping. Kangapouch is the original down filled baby sleep sack. CPSA certified and created to the highest quality, ethical and safety standards. Kangapouch has adjustable snaps on the shoulders and Velcro waist fasteners to allow for growth. Zipper-pull guard protects your baby's skin and two- way zippers allows for easy diaper change and added ventilation for use in all seasons. The white organic cotton Kangapouch uses a 550 thread count of 100% organic cotton fabric and is filled with duck down. Easy machine wash & dry. Learn more at kangapouch.net.

Lottie, Finn & Friends

Prize: Lottie, Finn & Friends 7.5" Doll

Lottie, Finn & Friends are age appropriate, relatable and empowering dolls and accessories inspired by childhood. Unlike other dolls, Lottie is based on a nine-year-old child. This collection of dolls and accessories encourage children to be imaginative, adventurous and most of all, to have fun. 2017 will see Lottie launch a series of chapter books with Penguin, as well as a 'Brownie' doll and accessories as part of a licensing deal signed with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Learn more at lottie.com.

Yummi Pouch

Prize: Jewel Cloth Snack Bags - set of 3

Take snacks on the go with Yummi Pouch cloth sandwich bags. These gorgeous Eco-friendly cloth storage bags have a moisture resistant interior, open with a zipper, and are decorated with modern jewel color patterns. Also available in snack bag size! Perfect for crackers, sandwiches, dry snacks, small items, accessories, and cosmetics. Learn more at revelae.com.

Sudsy Dough

Prize: Sudsy Dough Moldable Soap

Sudsy Dough is an interactive, sensory bath toy that doubles as a moldable scented dough and a cleansing soap. Kids can squeeze and squish Sudsy Dough in the bath, rub it on as body wash, or take it outside the tub and let it dry to make custom-shaped soaps. Sudsy Dough is scented and moisturizing, available in fragrances Sassy Strawberry, Merry Mango, Bubbly Blueberry, and Awesome Apple. Learn more at revelae.com.

Enter to win this fun prize collection!

This giveaway is coordinated by Mommy Scene, sponsored by the participating brands, and is open to US entries ages 18 and older. No purchase required to enter. One winner will be randomly chosen and contacted through e-mail, and their name displayed on the giveaway widget after the giveaway ends on April 14, 2017. Mommy Scene and participating blogs are not responsible for fulfilling brand-sponsored prizes. Prizes will be shipped directly from each brand. Have fun and good luck!

Do your kids love books? Or science? Or magic? If one or all of the above are true they will love the new Zoey and Sassafras book series! (We were provided with a copy free of charge in exchange for our honest opinion.)

The series is about an adorable little girl who uses scientific thinking to help magical animals. I love how empathetic and kind-hearted Zoey is as well as how determined she is. Despite problems that arise, she persists with her mission to help!

Why would a little girl need to help magical animals you wonder; well, it seems not everyone can see them. In fact, only a few people can see them even in photographs! How do you know if you are one that can see them? They glow. Easy enough.

Zoey even thought taking pictures of the magical animals would be one of the best parts!

So to go along with this enchanting book we wanted to make some pictures of our own magical creatures. And we wanted to make them glow!

Supplies to Make Magic Pictures

How to Create Magic Pictures

Before you start making magic you have to spend some time thinking about what kind of magic creature you want to appear and they setting it will be in.

Since only green and yellow highlighters seem to glow under a black light, really we tried them all and only had luck with those two color, those will be the colors you will want to disguise with as well. You aren't going to want to put a yellow creature in a blue ocean unless you are adding some green to the water as well since blue and yellow make green.

One of the great things about drawing a magical creature is that it is all from your imagination. You can create whatever type of animal you want to fit the scene you want to paint!

If you decide to skip this step and just start drawing you will likely find in the end your hidden picture is not very hidden at all. But it will still glow which is pretty cool.

Now that you have a plan in mind, you will want to start drawing your magical creature with a highlighter.

Now that you have a lovely green or yellow creature on your paper, it is time to paint.

I used watercolors for the remainder of the pictures because they are thin enough that the highlighter can still be seen through it.

However, since you need water for watercolors, the highlighter also spreads a bit when you paint. I didn't mind the spread to a point as it just provided a glowy effect like magic, but if you get too much spread you end up with a glowing blob. No point in drawing an awesome magical creature if you are going to turn it into a blob.

A couple tips to minimize the highlighter spread:

Just drawing the outline.

When painting over your animal, always paint towards the center of the animal rather than away from it.

Remember when designing the picture, you want your highlighter hidden from view in regular light for all those people who cannot see the magical animals.

After you have disguised your creature in an ordinary picture you simply wait for it all to dry. Be sure to leave it flat, so none of the paint will run!

Now comes the best part. Once your painting is dry you need to find an unsuspecting audience, little siblings or grandparents, you know people who don't normally see magical animals.

Start by showing them the picture in regular light (above) and then under the black light (below). You're sure to hear, "wow" or "amazing" when the magical creature glows back at them from the paper.

My kids loved making and showing off their magical pictures; they also loved Zoey and Sassafras (and Marshmallow). We read the entire book in one setting and they hardly wiggled (amazing!)

What I loved about Zoey and Sassafras

Zoey represents many positive character traits I would like my kids to develop

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